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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Hill 

11.25  iU    i!.6 


Photographic 
_Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STRUT 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 
D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pelliculde 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  da  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


D 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli^  avec  d'autres  documents 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrde  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
li  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  'ijout^es 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  dt6  filmdes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmentaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  'jniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiaer  une 
modification  dans  la  m^thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu^s  ci-dessous. 


D 
D 
D 


v/ 


n 

D 

n 
n 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag^es 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  peliiculdes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  ddcolor^es,  tachettes  ou  piqudes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachdes 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Qualitd  in^gale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppl^mentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  ref limed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  film6es  d  nouveau  de  fapon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiqud  ci-dessofjs. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


y 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


n 

32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  hes  been  reproduced  thenks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Glenbow-Alberta  institute 
Calgary 


L'exemplaire  fiim^  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
gAnArosit^  de: 

Glenbow-Alberta  institute 
Calgary 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  k:eeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6x6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  da  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetA  de  l'exemplaire  filmi,  at  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  covrr  and  ending  on 
the  laet  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illuatrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimAe  sont  fiimis  an  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  an  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'Hiusti     ion,  soit  par '«  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  las  autras  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  fiimAs  en  commenpant  p^r  !a 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  an  terminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  ^^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED ").  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
derr:    -e  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  y  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc..  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  b« 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  'eft  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illuatrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
film^s  it  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich<k,  il  est  filmd  6  partir 
de  Tangle  supirieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
at  de  haut  an  bas.  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicessaire.  Las  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^thode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

[KuoM   IJi'i.i..  (iKoi..  Si)c.   Am..  Vol.    l.J 


y 


«il,A(  lAI,    IKATI  l!i:s   OK    I'AKIS    oK    TIIK    YIKON    AM)     M  ACK  KNZl  K     llAf^IXrt. 


iiv    l;.   (1.    M(((iN.\i:i.l,. 


Tlio  I'olluwini;  mitis,  wliicli  I  liiivc  ciiilciivorcd  to  iiiiiko  jis  l)ri('f  iin  |H)ssil)lc,  on  tlio 
iiiiiro  siiliciit  L;-laciMl  I'c'iiiii'cs  III'  parts  III' till-  '^'iikoii  iirnl  .MiicUi'ii/.ii'  Iiasiiis,  wcru  uli- 
tuirii'il  wliili'  nil  a  iia-ly  L\i'iiIiiL,'ii'al  riToiiiuiis-.iiici'  in  ilip  noi-tii  in  llir  >uiiiiiiit.<  of  l.ssT 
and  ISSS.  'Ilii'  rmitc  Iravi'lli'ij  mi  liiis  i>cra>iiin  I'liilnwinl  the  main  walcr-coiifsi's  nl' 
till' cnuntrv.  Slartin;;  from  tin'  nioiitli  of  I)i.asi>  rivnr,  wolof  lln'  Kocl<y  .Moiintuiii>, 
in  lal.  I'lO"  N..  till'  Ijianl  wa-  I'ojlowi'il  in  its  stormy  cour-i^  I'astwanl  lliroiii;-li  ijio 
Roi'kics  to  its  jiiticti.in  with  tlw  Mackcn/.if  in  tliclow  hinds  cast  of  liiis  ranu,(>.  From 
Fort  Sin;pson.  nt  the  moiiili  of  the  liiiird.  I  a-ci'iMJi'd  thi"  Macl<cn/.i(' and  its  continua- 
tion. Slave  river,  to  Fort  Smith,  aiul  then,  liirnini;-  northward,  di-eiMided  Slave  river 


l:.    «1.    Mi'f  nNNKi.i.— Till.:    MN..N     .\  Nl .    M  .\(  K  i:.\/,|  |:    |!.\slNs.     T,  |  | 

t..  (in»t  Shuv  ImU,.,  nmst.Ml  aUu-j;  this  lak,.  i„  Us  niiil-t,  luid  lli.Mnl...,(.M.lr,l  ll„. 
.Ml.<'l<..n/.ir    l-ivrr    tl,n.|l-ll    its   wllol,.    l..,,-!!.  In  (he,    JM.il.l    of   its   ,l,.|lit    Mt    tlM.  ,„oull,  .,r 

I'.M.l  river,  Int.  (m-  IV  N.  F,-..,.  il,i.  |,„i„i  ,|„.  I;,,,-!,,.  ,M„„„,,,i,„.  i,.,,,.  ,,„„„  ,„„,. 
tli..i.s,,n.l  IV..t  ill  height,  u-,T,.  nrr..>se,i  l.v  ih.  I',.,.)  nv.T  ,,nrta-e  I,,  tl.,.  hoa.l  wuhT. 
of  th-    I'orciipiMc.   :,n,l    tl„.    JMtlrr  lollnwr,!  u,.-t  wmhI,  tl,rnu!;li    its   |n„^-  rMi„|,Mnst.. 

its  jiuictinli  uitli  tl„.  Vul.nn.  TIm'I,  l„.|Mlin^.  |,^:,i„  t,,  ,ln.  -null,.  III..  Vukni,  w:.-'.,.. 
.■.Ml.lcl    to  nil!    Kni-t  Selkirk,    «l|.-|,.,.n,|,|,.,.li,,„    wa-IIIM.ie   willl    l!le    lilinnr   r  \  pi,  .nU  in,| 

lraver>,.,l  i,,  the  previmi-  „,,„ ,  1,,    I),-,  (!,   M .  Daw.-n,,.     or  the  riseis   i,i,.|,ii,„„.,l, 

the  Miikceii/.ie  niily  iiiid  heeii  pivvimi-ly  .xaminr, |  hy  a  -enln-iM .  :iihI  that  nnlv  in' 
a  ciirsnry  inaniier  ami  helnp.  |1„.  s,il,i,,.t  nf  -laeialim,  iia.j  n  e,:ve,|  imieh  atteMiin,,. 

^^'''  ^'"'1'  '■"" I"'''  tl"'  'h-..|i|,live  jniiriiey  at  (ileal    Sla\.    l.ne.      Thi..    hike  is  .it- 

ilaleil  iipnii  the  \v(-tern  iiiai-iii  ..f  the  Areheaii  axis,  and  had  nri^inaily  H,.  funn  nf 
a  ,i,'reiit  ems.s,  witii  niie  arm  |ieii,.tiMtinu'  lh..  crystalline  -lii-l-.  while  tun  ..ili.^s 
siretehed  iinrili  and  >niith  ah.n-  ,1,,.  i„i,,.t.i,,n  ,,f  thr-v  with  ihe  newer  Mdiiiieiuaries, 
and  the  fniirlh  exlended  it-elf, , ver  ih,.  ijai-lyiiii;-  I)ev,.nian  .ntii.' we-t.  The  -niilhwii' 
arm  lias  imw  eninpletely  disa|.|ieared,  and  it>  Led  i-  lilled  with  a  -ivat  alluvial  depn-jt 
of  elays,  fal-e-heddiM  -and-,  and  line  n-raveU,  whieli  liavi.  l„-,n  i,rnii-lit  d.,wii  hy 
Slave  river  and  thr..iii,'h  whieli  its  turtimus  (haniKd  imw  wind-.  Not  -ati-lied  with 
hliryinu'  die  sniithern  arm,  this  rive^r  is  imw  pii-liiie^  it-  della  lar  nut  I,,  sea,  and 
tlirealen>  at  im  di-tani  day  tn  inlliet  a  -iniilar  I'al,.  mi  the  wlmh   .a.-lern  pnrli.wi  ..f  the 

lake.     'I'll,,  tim,.  sp..nt  nii  (iivat  Slavi.  laki.  wa-   mil  .sullieieiil    I.,  enat.i..  L.  Innn  a 

theory  a.s  to  it-  oriijin  whieli  wniild  have  niinh  value,  hut  it-  p..(.iiliar  -hiipe.  tlie 
frreut  depth  of  the  Andiean  imrtinii  iak(.|i  in  e..iin..,ti.,n  with  the  e.. niparalivc.lv  Inw 
ch'Vation  of  the  eniinlry  whi(  h  -iirmund-  it,  and  the  pri.(.ipilnii-  elills  which  hnrder 
the  shores  of  this  jiart  in  -o  many  places,  seem  ine\pli(.ahle  hy  -hu'ial  a<;encies.  It  i, 
liossijhle,  however, .that  tli(.  we-teni  portion,  wliieii  i-  mueli  -hiiih-wcr  and  li:i-  l,.w, 
shfdvinj;  shores,  may  have  heen  excavated   in   part  or  altogether  hy  a  nhaeier  I'orcini; 

its  way  out  of  a  previously  formed  ha.-iii  to  the  ea-t.     Xo  very  distinct  u' viri;,'s  or 

.striio  wore  (dwerved  around    the   lake,  hut    the  humi ks   nf  the  nn-Zir^  i,i(,iit<,„iices 

gncissie  surface  id"  the  country  in  tin-  vicinity  of  Fort  Kac  have  their  major  axes  i^en- 
orally  orientated  in  a  direi.ti,.ii  uh.,ui  S.  ::i)'  W..  or  diai,-onally  acm--  the  -^reat 
northern  arm  of  the  lake  on  \vlii(di  the  f.irt  is  •^itii.ated.  \V'i.|l  delim.d  "lacial  liiiin- 
iiiixdis  carved  out  of  m.-is-ive  doloinite-  were  oL-civi'd  in  one  plac('  on  the  we-lern 
arm  runniii';-  in  a  wc.-terly  directioii.  or  aliim-t  parallel  in  tin'  i,'eneral  cniir.-r  of  this 
)iortioii  of  the  lake. 

(irt'at  Slave  lake,  like  the  other  1,'i-eat  lakes  to  the  smith  IvIiil;  alniiLC  the  .A  rcheaii 
lioundary,  allords  pnad'  in  the  tiracr-  -iirrmindiiiu,-  il  of  forne.r  hii;!i..r  levels  ,)f  it- 
waters.  Krai;inents  id'  two  liiii.-  of  terraci'.s  wi're  iiotic.d  in  a  niimher  of  places 
around  the  western  arm  of  tin;  lake.  The  ijreate-t  (d(.vali.>ii  of  tlie>e  uiil  not,  how- 
ever, e.vceed  oO  feel  ahove  the  pre-eni  .-.iirfacc'  of  the  water. 

Hay  river,  which  (>nter.s  L^rcat  Slave  lake  near  its  western  end  aiel  drain-  the!  emm- 
try  to  tlu!  southwest,  lia>  evi<lently  had  a  history  -oniewdiat  >iinil,ir  t.i  that  of  the 
Niai;i'ra;  hut  it  has  not  yi.t  iieen  tlmroimhly  explm-c.d.  In  il-  l.iwer  part  it- valley 
is  carved  out  of  a  soft  shaly  terrane  holdiin;'  IJ.amilt.ni  fo.-sils.  Fifty  miles  ahove  its 
mouth  a  heavy  hand  of  cream-cohireil  linie-t.uie  overlyliir,-  the  .-hales  crosses  the.  river, 
and  a  strikiiii^  chani:;e  is  at  once  idisi.rved  in  the  a-peci  m'  the  valiey.  .\-,  we  advance, 
the  valley  contracts  and  hi.comei  a  i;dri;e,  so  det.p  and  n'lrrow  thai  its  precijMt.uis 
walls,  hiittressed  hidow  hy  an  emhankmciit  of  I'allen  fraL;incnts,  almost  a|ipear  to  over- 
haiii;  the  .stream,  while  tlu;  river,  reduced  in  uiillh   in  .-oiiie  pari.-  to   10(1  fce.l,  da.-hes 


ii;(i(  I  KiHMis  di'   m:\v   Vi>|;K    \i i:i;'I'I N<i. 


iili'Mi,'  it-  l)o\vUli  r-lilli'il  rliiiiiiiil  witli  lii'wililiTiii^f  iiiipctiiii-ity.  Al  scvim'jiI  |ioiiit-i 
Miiiill  siiio  sUi'iim-  lliiii;  llii'iii-.'Ui-  over  the  limw  of  tln'  unworn  diirs  mihI  nirvi! 
:;riioi'l'iillv  <l<>wii  into  tin'  -Iri'iini  lnMioiilli.  Six  inilr>  mIhivc  it>  niontli  tin'  i;or^;(!  i, 
inlt  rrnptcil  l'\  ii  lull  •"'"  l'''"t  i"  ln'ii;lit,  iiinl  ;i  niilr  riirtin'i-  up  i-  iln-,'il  <oni|il('lcly  ly 
u  full  of  1(1(1  fci  t  Atiovi'  till-  I'kII-  till'  I'iMT  lm>  I'liili'ij  to  |ii-oilin'n  mop'  lliiin  ti  fi'i'lilc 
inini'i'-oioii  on  tin'  liitnl  liim-toni'  lu'ds  wliicli  lloor  llir  rtdi'i'oiitnlilig  loiintry,  iiinl  loses 
its  valli'y  :ilinost  ultoi^i'lln'r, 

'I'ln'  lliiv  rivc'i'  fulls  owe  llicir  oi'i'^iii  to  prpcivcly  tin'  siiim'  cadsc  iis  ilnit  w'nirli  pro- 
tlih  ••  till'  I'liinoii-  falls  at  Niaijara,  vi/..,  tlin  superposition  of  tiani  limestone  on  >oft 
shales,  anil  tlie  eon-r(|in'nl  ninliTminin:^'  ami  clestriielion  of  tin'  fornnT  ell'eeled  liy  the 
rapiil  ero>ion  ami  removal  of  the  s(i|iporiin;;'  l)e(i-.  It  i>  inien'-tiii'^  to  lind  that  the 
rate  of  retrocession  of  tho  two  fall-,  tnea-iired  hy  tin'  leti^'tli  of  iheir  i;ori;es.  has  he.'n 
almo-t  pr'i'iselv  the -anie.  The  i|uantily  of  the  wM'k  done  hy  the  two  -Ircanis  can- 
not, iiowever,  lie  regarded  as  mindi  more  tliiin  a  eoincidenco,  a-  the  factors  in  the  two 
ca-cs  ate  entirely  dilferent.  The  volnine  id"  water  which  falls  over  the  precipice  al 
Nia'.'ara  is  tm  fold  '^lentcr  than  that  cariie,|  hy  Hay  river,  while  its  erosive  power  is 
r<'lati\ely  le--  on  aecoiiiit  of  its  greater  purity.  ISesides  Hay  river,  a  iKimhcr  of 
sti'eani-'^vhicli  join  tins  Miieken/ie  from  the  south  ami  soiitliwcst  in  the  first  l()(t  miles 
of  its  conrse  are  interrniited  hy  falls  and  heavy  rapids,  all  id'  which  prohahly  date 
from  the  ylaciiil   |>eriod. 

I'roceedint;  down  the  M.aeken/.ie  from  (Ireat  Slave  laUe,  alluvial  clays  are  miticcd 
for  sonic  mile-,  and  thi'ii  a  howlder  day,  scarcely  dislini;iii-hahh;  in  character  from 
the  Slime  lormation  a-  developed  in  ca,sti'rn  Canada  :{,00()  miles  distant,  niHUc.-.  its  ap- 
]icaranii'.  Itoccnrs  here  as  a  lijrlit  yellowish,  compact,  art'iiacooiis  clay  filled  with 
ronndeil  Arcln'aii  howlders  and,  as  elsewhere,  showini;  only  faint  si<4ns  of  slnililica- 
tion.  It  is  traceahle  in  nnmcroiis  exposures  as  far  jis  the  mouth  of  the  Liaril,  which 
join-  the  Maekei./Je  l."i(l  milcs  from  it-  head. 

The  Lianl  which  joins  the  Macki^n/.ie  from  the  west,  affords  an  excellont  cross-section 
of  the  ijiacial  heds  coverini;  the  country  lietween  the  latter  river  ami  tho  muiintains. 
These  do  not.  leiwever,  I'le-ent  inu^  h  varieiy.  Heavy  sections  of  bowlder  clay  rest- 
ini;  on  the  Di'Vonian  limestones  occur  alonu;  the  valley  for  the  first  oO  miles,  and  then 
sink  heni'ath  the  surface;  and  in  the  next  reach  of  '>(>  or  (!()  mile-  the  river  winds 
throni;h  oin'  of  those  filledu))  prei^laeial  depressions  which  iire  so  frec|Uently  met  with 
on  the  area  of  the  (ireat    I'lains.      In    this  the  ordinary  lake   deposits  only  are  seen. 

We-t  of  this  ha-in   the  Cretai us    shales,  which    have  now    replaced   the    Devonian 

limc-toncs.  rise  to  the  surface  hut  are  capped  with  stratified  shales,  sands,  ami  i;ravels 
only,  the  howlih'r  clay  havini;  disapi)earid.  (!l.ici;il  erratics,  on  the  other  haiul,  ex- 
tend far  heyond  the  limits  o|'  tic  howlder  clay  itself,  and  are  fouml  in  some  jihundain'e 
as  t'ar  e-t  is  tin'  eastern  etlLje  i.f  the  plale.au  country,  which  in  this  latitmle  honh'rs 
the  foothill-  ot'  the  li..cky  Mountiiins.  They  were  also  found  on  the  Hanks  of  a 
imtnntains  itiniled  i>i)])osite  Kort  Liard,  in  lat.  (il)°  W  N.,  loni;.  ]'2'-\^  W.,  at  a  heiijht 
of  1,.'»00  feel  aliove  the  surface  of  tin-  -uirouinlin^'  country,  or  ahoiil  'J, .UK)  feel  aliovc 
the  sea.  . 

Kettirnini;  to  iho  Marken/,ie  and  contiiiuitiL;  in  oui'  way  down  it,  we  find  bowlder 
clay  rostinp;  on  the  -urface.if  the  rock-  and  tillini^  up  irroi.;ularities  in  the  old  proi;lacial 
surface  as  far  mirth  as  the  head  of  its  delta  in  latitude  ti7°  ■I-')''  N.,  and  this  notwilh- 
slandini;  the  fact  that  less  tiian  KX)  mile-  helow  tin;  nnnith  of  the  Liard  the  Mackenzie 
enters  the  tiankin'j;  ranijes  of  the  |{i,cky  .Mountains;  ami  for  the  next  ')tM)or  (JOO  mile.s 
its  valley  is  partially  i^uarded  on  the  east  hy  ranges  of  nnninlains,  some  of  which  ex- 


ceeil 
nio-t 
rive 
is  al 

plaei 
iiii' 
Tl 


i;.  i..   MccdNNh  I.I,— nil:   \i  kun    wi,   \i\(  Ki\/ih    i;\'i\- 


i'(!i>(l  1,0(10  feet  ill  h.j.^lit.  'rill'  liowlili'i-  f'my  nv  till  ,>{'  \\i,-  Miickon/.ii'  viilli'v.  iilllnunrli 
iiiiislly  i>t'  Itic  ii''iliiiiii'v  Ivjii'i  |iii  «i'iils  -iiiiK  v!iriiilii>n>.  Kni'  iiiiiiiv  iniic,'*  iilinvc  It. Mir 
river  it  is  exci'cdiiii^ly  darU  in  cnjnr  Mini,  witli  llic  (Aci'iilimi  of  ..nf  lav^T  iil  il>  Imsi 
is  iiliiiost  (loslitilli^  uf  l)i.\vlciiTs.  It  liii- 11  tlTh  |<iii'-s  Ihtc  Hi'  dViT  'J'lO  Ici'l.  In  (iiIht 
|)lii('i'.s  it  (•.\liil)it.<  till  iiii|((>"|i'(t  slnitiliciilioii.  :iihl  It  rn>i|iii>Mtly  lii>lil«  iiTi'i,'iiliir  -liiiiicij 
iiicliisiiiiis  111'  |i  h'lid-Ljriiy  cliiy,  smi if  wliirli  iiri' .ji-tiiic  ily  li.'il.li'ij. 

Till' Hilly  cvidclici' lit'  Mil  iiili'iLilMi  ill!  jn'i'ii  d  uIi-mimiI  wii.'<  liic  disi'iiM'ry  in  hih' iilncii 
(if  nil  iiit(M'('nlatii>ii  III'  -li-Mtitii'i!  -iiiiiN  Mild  '^I'livi'l-  dividiiii,'  llir  ImwldiT  ijiiv  iiiln 
iijijH'r  tiiiil  liiwf'i'  imi't.-f.      This  iiiij^lil,  Imwi'vcr,  ln'  dm'  In  n  [nirfly  IhimI  ('iiii-;r. 

'I'lic  iiiiwldi'l' (diiy  llirniiiilioiit  till' '^riMlir  purl  i.l  tlir  vmIIi'v  i^  ii\  I'llMir  liy  lii-iivv 
di'|")>its  of  slriilillcd  .-luid^,  rlays,  mid  ^ji'iivi'l-,  and  i^  mid  'rlaiii  liv  a  i^riivi'l  riiriiialioii 
.•iuiiii'w  lial  siiiiihii'  li>  tliat  wliirli  occur-  in  llin  •;iiiiii'  rdnlivi'  |io,itii>ii  on  tJio  plains  of 

Allicrta  and  .\s-inilioia.  and  wiiicli  I  liavc  cNcwiici allcij  the  Siiskalilii'waii  LtravcN  ; 

froin  w  liicli,  liovvi'ViT,  it  diirc:'-  in  coiilaiiiiiii;  a  'ar^'cr  pioportimi  nf  Laiiri'iitian  pclddc-. 

Till'  few  I'acl.s  iiiwcrvi'd  in  ri'i;ard  to  tlic  direct  ion  of  the  ire  t|.i\v  in  tin  .Miicken/ii' 
valh'y  sii]i|iort  llie  tlii'nry  of  Dr.  Dawsmi  iis  to  it-  norihi'iiy  iiiDveimnt  In  tin'  west- 
ern part  of  (Jreat  Slave  lake  tlic  direction  of  the  ice  i-iiri-eii'.  a-  previoii-lv  -tatud,  was 
due  west.  Five  dei,'rt'es  further  noitll,  well  niarlied  L;iai'inl  stria'  treiidili!,'  N.O")"  \V. 
weri!  found  cros^inL,"  tile  -uniniit  i'^'  Iioche  Carcajoii.  Tiiis  roci.,  wiiicii  niust,  have 
liecn  completely  si}|ijni'i'u;i.d,  rises  to  11  hcii;ht  ol  1.0(1(1  fi'i'i  uliiivc  the  -iirface  m,"  the 
river.  Ini]>ortiint  evidence  on  the  same  point  is  also  aH'orded  'ly  the  fact  that  liie 
till  near  the  lower  ranipiirts  of  the  .NiacUen/.ie  is  in  ap|)ri>\iiiiiit<dy  the  same  latitude 
as  the  northern  lioiiiidary  nf  the  Archeaii  area  to  tin-  ea-l,  and  the  ;;iii'is>i  •  Imwlders 
which  it  contains  must  have  travelled  either  directly  we-l  "i-  norlliwc-t  ri  order  to 
reach  their  present  -iliiation. 

The  facts  luUliicod  above  allow  the  inferL'iice  that  tin-  iic  fi'ini  the  .\rclieaii  ijallieriiiij 
ixroiiiids  to  till!  cast  poured  westward  tliroUi;h  tlie  i^aji-  and  passes  in  the  eastern  llaiik- 
iiii;  rani;es  of  the  Kocky  Mountains  until  it  r(^aclieil  tin)  harrier  fortned  hy  the  mail) 
u.xiiil  rant^e,  when,  hein;;  iinahle  to  pass  thi>,  it  was  dellccti'il  to  the  iinrihwest  in  u 
stream  I'roin  l,.'iO0  to  2,000  feet  deep  down  the  valley  of  the  Mackeii/.ie  and  thence 
out  to  sea. 

Leaving  the  Macken/.ie  for  the  Yukon,  wo  elinil)  and  cross  over  a  enuple  of  ter- 
race.s,  till!  higher  of  wdiidi  has  iin  elevation  of  .'lOO  t'eet  ahove  the  river  or  ahoiit  fi'Mt 
fo.it  uhovo  the  si'a,  anil  tlien  mi  tlii.-  route  leave  all  trace- of  the  ghicial  agi!  heliind, 
although  a  few  miles  furllier  iinith  erratics  are  found  fuiiy  I.ODO  t'eet  higher.  In 
descending  the  nioiintiiins  on  the  west  W"  follow  a  hraie'li  ol'  Itat  river  ihroii'^di  a 
wild  canon  cut  out  of  llal-lying  sand-Ioiie<  and  ipiart/.ile-.  from  the  iii'iulli  nf  which 
a  level  terrace,  with  friigiiieiits  of  a  liii;'ier  one  r"-ting  on  it  in  places,  strelche-.  wc-t 
to  IJat  river.      Tlie-e   terraces   are    iniicli    hiiilier   than    those  on   the  eastern  side,  and 

have  an  elevation  of  l,"iOOlo   1,700  t'eet   ahove  the  sea.      I'lm ling  down  Hat  river 

to  the  porcupine,  and  down  the  latter  through  its  ramparts,  sands,  gravels,  and  silts 
ari'  found  resting  on  the  country  rocks,  hut  no  bowlder  clay  nor  glai'ial  erratics  were 
anvwdiore  seen.  Some  dist"ice  helow  the  rampart-  the  valley  of  the  I'orcupino 
widens,  and  from  that  on  to  its  nioutli  it  ser)ientiiies  throui;li  a  low  alluvial  plain  ele- 
vated only  a  t'ew  feet  ahove  the  -'.irfacc  of  the  river  and  e\idently  representiin;-  a 
lillci!-up  lake  ha-^in  or  former  wide  dilatation  of  the  river  chMiiiiel.  Turning  up  the 
Yukon  from  the  mouth  of  the  I'orciipine,  thi-  river  -plits  up  into  iiinumerahle  chan- 
nels and,  spreadiii:;;  out  in  places  to  a  width  of  ciM-hi  ,ir  ten  miles,  cuts  for  To  miles 
through  the  .siimealluvial  fornuition.      Ahove  this  the  valley  hecomcs  more  contracted. 


;)|l  i'i;<»ri;i:iiiN(is  or  m:sv  youk   mkktinh. 

mill  luiiisiuiiiillv.  I'nr  till'  tii'xt  -(Ml  inil('.«.  huihIi,  lilts,  ami  i^riivi'ls  similar  Id  IIkwc  on  tin- 
I'lii-riiiiiiii'  ll'"ii'  it-  liiillniii.  Aiipiimrliiiii;  till'  Slcwarl  rivci-,  wiiln  tjruvi'l  tiTriiccs  (Vniii 
;',{)  III  KMi  I'fiM  liiu'li  I'linlcr  till'  iimt  miil  ri'iiiral  iriliTval>  all  lln'  way  tu  thu  Kink  ra|iiil> 
iiu  lii'Wr-^  rivi'i',  lii'liiw  wliii'li  [I'liiit  till'  liowlili'r  clay,  wliii'li  liii>  nut  lii'i-n  socii  sinco 
li'aviiii;  llii'  Mai'lii'ii/.ii',  attain  iiiaki's  it<  a|ipi'araiif('.      Almvi!  this,  ii'i-  i^roiviiiuM  am! 

M'iiiiM:i>  '"111   •'"  '' •'"'■'  will-Km   VII  mark-i  ul'  i;liii'ialii)n  an'  cvrry wImth  I'viiji'iil. 

I  liiiil  Mil  ii|i|i<irtiniily  iil'  cxatiiinin!;  tlio  |ilHti>iiii  luiriii'rini;  tlio  Vukon  ;  Iml,  jiult^ini; 
-iiniily  IViiiii  till'  ri'i  iii'ds  ul'  tin-  ici'  aiji'  wliii'li  tlii'  valley  ilsrlf  atl'ni'ds,  it  wmilil  up|H'ur 
llial  ll;i' f;lni'ii'i'  wiiirli  uiiil'iulili'illy  lillril  the  iiii|ii'i'  part  uf  llie  valley  itl'  tlie  Lewes 
anil  nievi'il  nui'tliwiiiil^  iliil  imt  doseenil  billow  a  point  alioiit  •')(>  miles  aliovo  tint  nioiitli 
of  111"  I'i'lly,  or  lal.  'i'-'"  M*'  N.  Melow  this  the  deposits  iinlieatii  a  Hooded  valley,  but 
nolllili^X  else. 

IJefiire  cliisiriLj  this  paper  I  slinuld  like  to  draw  attention  to  a  fuet  which  may  have 
Some  lieariiii;  on  the  iion-i;laciated  condition  of  part  oC  Alaska  and  the  adjacent  por- 
tion of  the  North  West  territory  of  Canada,  viz.,  that  jjlaciers  are  unknown  in  the 
Itiicky  Mountains  north  of  the  hedwaturs  of  the  Athabasca,  or  ahmil  hit.  04"  N. 
North  of  this  occa-ional  patches  of  snow  survive  the  summer  in  sheltered  nooks,  hut 
even  thcjie  decrease  in  fre(pieney  with  increasi,".^ 'uiitude  ;  and  on  tlie  I'eel  river  port- 
aLce,  in  Jut.  f)7°  •".<•'  N.,  the  snow  had  eiUirely  disappeared  before  the  luUldle  of  July. 
Al.-o  in  desci'iidini;  the  l'orcM|iine  and  ascendinj;  the  Yukon,  no  snow  was  seen  until 
t'ar  up  the  Lewe^.  and  no  jjlaciers  until  the  head  waters  of  this  stream  were  reached. 
It  follow-  frniii  this  that  climatic  clian!;es  which  would  extend  the  present  ijlaciers 
(if  the  IJow  and  .Saskatchewan  far  down  their  valleys  miijht  liavi;  little  or  no  etl'ectin 
imposing;  i^lacial  conditions  on  this  more  nortiiern  r(.'j;;ion. 


Gkomxikai,  Sukvkv  ok  Canada,  Dvcnnber  'li,  1880. 


